Openwrt Router Firmware

[xiaofan]

OpenWRT 24.10 has been released.
https://openwrt.org/releases/24.10/notes-24.10.0

 

[Jurong640]

Anyone here tried using Orangepi for router? I have a few Orangepi projects at home, and saw a few Orangepi that has a few Ethernet ports. Was reading through and was thinking to perhaps in future try out to flash OpenWRT as use as router. But looking a few Orangepi's, most are 1gb port.

What are the benefits? Thank you

 

[xiaofan]

Anyone here tried using Orangepi for router? I have a few Orangepi projects at home, and saw a few Orangepi that has a few Ethernet ports. Was reading through and was thinking to perhaps in future try out to flash OpenWRT as use as router. But looking a few Orangepi's, most are 1gb port.

What are the benefits? Thank you

1. ARM SBC
Xunlong Orange Pi boards are not famous for OpenWRT.
Sinovoip --> Banana Pi BPi-R3 (2.5G capable) and BPI-R4 (10G capable and WiFi 7)
Friendly ARM --> NanoPi R2S/R2C, R4S, R5S/R5C (2.5G capable) and R6S (2.5G capable)

2. Why using OpenWRT?
https://openwrt.org/reasons_to_use_openwrt

3. Typical use cases
a) Wired router using x86_64 Mini PC or ARM SBC
b) Wireless router -- you can reuse wireless router (often no longer supported by the vendor) with OpenWRT to get better security and gain more FW features and long term support (better than Asus)

4. Popular devices with OpenWRT support
a) Intel X86_64 mini PC or ARM SBC mentioned above
b) GLi.Net GL-MT6000 and GL-MT3000, Asus TUF-AX6000 and TUF-AX4200, Redmi AX6000, Xiaomi AX3000T, Xiaomi AX3600, Linksys E8450, Linksys EA8100 v1, Linksys EA7500 v2, etc

 

[redglue23]

Updated Linksys EA8100 to OpenWRT 24.10.

Last dec, set up for one of my elderly relatives on M1 500Mbps plan, 1 EA8100 unit cover the entire 4-room HDB, less than 6 devices in total. Super cost effective and stable, got the EA8100 free from Carousell, as tons are upgrading to AX/BE routers.

2.4Ghz = 92/110
5Ghz = 330/220

EA8100 seems to be a shade faster than EA7500 because of the ability to use DFS channels.

2022-04 - Linksys-EA7500v2-OpenWRTv22.03 - 2.4Ghz 38+/56
2022-06 - TP-Link Archer C80 - 2.4Ghz 90/90
2023-06 - DIR-868L-DD-WRT v3.0-R52095 - 2.4Ghz 80/60 |5Ghz 220/200
2024-10 - DIR-868L-DD-WRT v3.0-R58568 - 2.4Ghz 48/68 | 5Ghz 83/99 <--- Not sure if it is hardware failing? Or firmware issue, so decided to swap out to EA8100
2024-11 - Linksys-EA8100 (Stock 1.0.3.204298) - 2.4Ghz 50/60 | 5Ghz 252/206
2024-11 - Linksys-EA8100 (OpenWRT 23.05.5) - 2.4Ghz 90/112 |5Ghz 330/220
2025-02 - Linksys-EA8100 (OpenWRT 24.10) - 2.4Ghz 92/110 |5Ghz 330/220

 

[grynove]

updated ea7500v2 into 24.10. confused why my download speed is always half of the upload speed.

300/600. any tips what to enable or disable ?

 

[xiaofan]

This is what I get from Linksys EA7500v2 (AP mode) from 3m distance (Using Acer Swift 3 2021 model, Intel AX201 adapter).

No differences between OpenWRT 23.05 and OpenWRT 24.10 in terms of wireless performance.

Somehow I need to remove the wireless interface and add it back to get the 5GHz wireless to work.

1) OpenWRT 23.05

Hostname	OpenWrt_EA7500v2
Model	Linksys EA7500 v2
Architecture	MediaTek MT7621 ver:1 eco:3
Target Platform	ramips/mt7621
Firmware Version	OpenWrt 23.05.3 r23809-234f1a2efa / LuCI openwrt-23.05 branch git-24.073.29889-cd7e519
Kernel Version	5.15.150

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     4.19 ms   (jitter: 0.65ms, low: 3.46ms, high: 4.77ms)
    Download:   515.52 Mbps (data used: 875.4 MB)
                 18.42 ms   (jitter: 7.29ms, low: 3.72ms, high: 67.03ms)
      Upload:   436.76 Mbps (data used: 522.8 MB)
                 95.13 ms   (jitter: 24.17ms, low: 3.46ms, high: 237.01ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/94063ba9-430e-4f74-8862-96a1aaeb9dd4

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     5.04 ms   (jitter: 0.51ms, low: 4.41ms, high: 5.59ms)
    Download:   492.18 Mbps (data used: 300.3 MB)
                 15.19 ms   (jitter: 6.70ms, low: 3.61ms, high: 51.99ms)
      Upload:   444.57 Mbps (data used: 633.8 MB)
                100.12 ms   (jitter: 27.71ms, low: 5.19ms, high: 274.70ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/738bc4b0-f4d6-4290-a015-ee24fac15fec

2) OpenWRT 24.10

Hostname	OpenWrt_EA7500v2
Model	Linksys EA7500 v2
Architecture	MediaTek MT7621 ver:1 eco:3
Target Platform	ramips/mt7621
Firmware Version	OpenWrt 24.10.0 r28427-6df0e3d02a / LuCI openwrt-24.10 branch 25.014.55016~7046a1c
Kernel Version	6.6.73

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     3.40 ms   (jitter: 0.51ms, low: 3.20ms, high: 4.18ms)
    Download:   504.57 Mbps (data used: 756.4 MB)
                 19.71 ms   (jitter: 6.36ms, low: 3.51ms, high: 58.64ms)
      Upload:   406.88 Mbps (data used: 699.8 MB)
                 95.63 ms   (jitter: 32.56ms, low: 4.71ms, high: 419.13ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/54a2d9ea-2cfb-42aa-9784-6aa8c09a15af

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     4.73 ms   (jitter: 2.13ms, low: 3.16ms, high: 6.22ms)
    Download:   520.38 Mbps (data used: 625.7 MB)
                 17.43 ms   (jitter: 4.82ms, low: 3.76ms, high: 57.44ms)
      Upload:   475.37 Mbps (data used: 516.6 MB)
                 61.21 ms   (jitter: 13.36ms, low: 5.44ms, high: 186.82ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/6058c4f3-e494-4b37-99bb-5d6fe6d5aabd

 

[xiaofan]

updated ea7500v2 into 24.10. confused why my download speed is always half of the upload speed.

300/600. any tips what to enable or disable ?

Just wondering if you are running it after another router (Double NAT).

I remember seeing such issues with Double NAT.

In tems of wireless settings, my tests were done with almost default OpenWRT wireless settings, just change the Wireless country to SG and set up the password, using CH149 and 80MHz channel bandwidth.

But I run it in AP mode. Just upgraded from OpenWRT 23.05 to 24.10 by keeping all the settings.

 

[xiaofan]

2.4GHz performance is always not good due to strong interferences -- very high upload latency. Previously I did not even enable 2.4GHz band. Today just give it a try under OpenWRT 24.10, CH11, 20MHz channel bandwidth.

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     3.48 ms   (jitter: 0.35ms, low: 3.14ms, high: 3.91ms)
    Download:    87.56 Mbps (data used: 54.8 MB)
                 22.29 ms   (jitter: 6.53ms, low: 6.58ms, high: 39.27ms)
      Upload:    75.04 Mbps (data used: 100.3 MB)
                491.98 ms   (jitter: 88.10ms, low: 7.15ms, high: 982.92ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/cb738bbd-9021-4f37-bea7-e0cf0ce00904

 

[xiaofan]

OpenWRT 23.05 was broken for Linksys WRT1900AC, but it is said that OpenWRT 24.10 is supposed to fix the issues and it seems to be true.

3m wireless distance test, CH149, 80MHz channel bandwidth.

Before version, an OpenWRT fork since OpenWRT 23.05 was broken.
https://divested.dev/unofficial-openwrt-builds/mvebu-linksys/

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     2.75 ms   (jitter: 0.30ms, low: 2.33ms, high: 3.26ms)
    Download:   369.36 Mbps (data used: 421.9 MB)
                 18.67 ms   (jitter: 5.31ms, low: 3.17ms, high: 40.96ms)
      Upload:   403.38 Mbps (data used: 256.8 MB)
                 42.69 ms   (jitter: 24.05ms, low: 16.59ms, high: 312.15ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/195cd6bb-9bab-4b93-9209-4bed68a5989c

After upgrade --> OpenWRT 24.10.

Hostname	OpenWrt_WRT1900AC_V1
Model	Linksys WRT1900AC v1
Architecture	ARMv7 Processor rev 2 (v7l)
Target Platform	mvebu/cortexa9
Firmware Version	OpenWrt 24.10.0 r28427-6df0e3d02a / LuCI openwrt-24.10 branch 25.014.55016~7046a1c
Kernel Version	6.6.73

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     3.12 ms   (jitter: 1.28ms, low: 2.87ms, high: 5.54ms)
    Download:   433.78 Mbps (data used: 581.7 MB)
                 18.10 ms   (jitter: 6.06ms, low: 4.35ms, high: 34.30ms)
      Upload:   363.33 Mbps (data used: 219.8 MB)
                 84.17 ms   (jitter: 28.66ms, low: 6.58ms, high: 311.29ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/befb96e8-9edf-48b0-af74-f53a63675d4a

2.4GHz band, CH1, 20MHz channel bandwidth, 3m distance. Upload latency is not good.

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:    12.71 ms   (jitter: 11.23ms, low: 5.65ms, high: 30.44ms)
    Download:    62.47 Mbps (data used: 108.1 MB)
                 34.89 ms   (jitter: 10.77ms, low: 4.78ms, high: 87.28ms)
      Upload:    78.27 Mbps (data used: 133.9 MB)
                475.60 ms   (jitter: 89.96ms, low: 6.31ms, high: 1138.27ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/0c70ce97-412c-4401-9e03-1bde8642eb0f

 

[grynove]

thanks for your reply. I run it as AP mode. disabled dhcpd and dnsmasq. Only using 5G for a test.

Currently using Google wifi as AP also runs quite well. 5G only.

im thinking if its driver issue.

anyway let me try speedtest cli.

 

[xiaofan]

Interestingly Google WiFi has been supported by OpenWRT since 23.05 and now 24.10.
https://openwrt.org/toh/google/wifi

 

[xiaofan]

Some of the most popular developer thread in OpenWRT by views.

Quite a few threads are related to Xiaomi routers like Xiaomi AX3600, Xiaomi AX9000, Redmi AX6S and Xiaomi AX3200.

 

[xiaofan]

The most poplar HW threads by views.

Looks like GL.iNET Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) is really popular.

 

[grynove]

flint 2 is good. is just personally i dont like the outlook. ugly. hahaha.

i just found out that there's many modded openwrt around. xwrt, qwrt, they are fully loaded feature.
so many function that i have no idea. you can give it a try for ur ea7500

 

[xiaofan]

flint 2 is good. is just personally i dont like the outlook. ugly. hahaha.

i just found out that there's many modded openwrt around. xwrt, qwrt, they are fully loaded feature.
so many function that i have no idea. you can give it a try for ur ea7500

Indeed there are many forks of OpenWRT. Usually I will stick to official OpenWRT for the old EA7500 v2 and Linksys WRT1900AC, as well as Deco M4. I have tried xwrt and I do not think it is worth looking at.

For Xiaomi AX3000T and H3C NX30 Pro, I have tried a few forks (ImmortalWRT and others), but in the end always go back to official OpenWRT.

qwrt seems to support some WiFi 6/7 routers not officially supported by official OpenWRT. I don't have those models myself.

My WiFi 7 routers do not seem to support OpenWRT yet, including the OpenWRT forks.

 

[xiaofan]

Notable OpenWRT forks, many of them seem to be geared toward Chinese users

1) ImmortalWRT -- pretty close to official OpenWRT but with some additions
https://github.com/immortalwrt

2) x-wrt
https://x-wrt.com/
https://github.com/x-wrt/x-wrt

3) Some special fork of ImmortalWRT for MediaTek Filogic 820/830 routers)
https://github.com/hanwckf/immortalwrt-mt798x
https://github.com/hanwckf/bl-mt798x (bootloader)

4) Q-wrt (Chinese fork with some close-source stuff) by lean, which may support some routers not officially supported by OpenWRT, like Xiaomi BE7000 (IPQ955x) and Xiaomi BE10000 (IPQ957x)
Usually in Chinese forum.

5) Not so sure if the following is still worth to consider or not.
https://github.com/ericpaulbishop/gargoyle
https://www.gargoyle-router.com/

6) Specific to Qualcomm IPQ807x/IPQ6018 chipset with NSS
https://forum.openwrt.org/t/qualcommax-nss-build/148529
https://github.com/qosmio/openwrt-ipq/

 

[xiaofan]

OpenWRT's next release may have Qualcomm IPQ5018 support -- this chipset is used by many WiFi 6 routers.
https://git.openwrt.org/?p=openwrt/openwrt.git;a=commit;h=34d9172655af4e71f9b06229cbd5a716d359ac23

GL.iNet B3000 OpenWRT developer discussion
https://forum.openwrt.org/t/ipq5018-glinet-b3000-info/210771
GL.iNet Marble B3000 Product page:
https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-b3000/

Reference discussion in this forum.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...-solution-for-typical-hdb-flat.7006182/page-3

The OpenWRT community looks like it’ll get the TP-Link Archer AX72 working before 2028. I wouldn’t recommend buying one unless and until they do, but if you already have one you may be able to switch to OpenWRT firmware in the near future to get more and better useful life out of the device.

Just to give everyone some idea how much e-waste consumer grade wireless routers generate, the Archer AX72 was only introduced in early 2023 (FCC certified in December, 2022). So TP-Link is only promising 5 years of security updates (if you bought it on “Day 1”), and typically slow delivery of updates at that. Kudos to the OpenWRT community (and other independent firmware communities) for helping to reduce e-waste.

To get technical for a moment, the Archer AX72 uses a Qualcomm IPQ5018 SoC. The OpenWRT community has made considerable progress adding support for the IPQ5018 to their firmware. I don’t think they’re quite ready to declare victory, but I think they will in due course. The GL.iNET B3000, another IPQ5018-based device, seems farthest along. But none of these IPQ5018 devices will be supported until at least OpenWRT 25.x.

 

[xiaofan]

The other thing worth looking at is official IPQ957x/955x support. Initial pull-request has been merged as a base to add more support for real devices.
https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/17725

Many flagship WiFi 7 routers are based on this chipset, like Xiaomi BE10000, TP-Link Archer BE800, Deco BE85, EB810v and HB810.

 

[WaterDrinker]

$100-$150 budget, want openwrt. what are my options (ax\be5400+)

 

[xiaofan]

$100-$150 budget, want openwrt. what are my options (ax\be5400+)

GL.iNet Flint 2: the best mid-range OpenWRT compatible router with dual 2.5G ports and quad 1G ports, MediaTek Filogic 830 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB eMMC.

I am not good at finding lobangs though so I just point to official GL.iNet APAC online shop at US$132. You may be able to find online shops with cheaper price.

https://openwrt.org/toh/gl.inet/gl-mt6000

https://store.gl-inet.com/products/flint-2-gl-mt6000-wi-fi-6-high-performance-home-router